New member here and I really need some advice :)

[laid up doc]

Hillary,

The standard measure of disability for spine pain is the Oswestry Disability Index, or ODI. You can find and score it online if no one has given you one - here's a link to one: http://drbrassie.com/files/Oswestry_...ndex_12_07.pdf.

It basically assesses how much your life is impacted by your spine pain. Pretty much any study of ADR's, fusion, or other back interventions uses the ODI as one of its endpoints - ie, how bad were the patients going in and how much better did they get.

If you have not done injections and intensive PT... I would at least try that before having an irreversible surgery. Some people get significantly better. Pain and disability aren't always well correlated with how your imaging looks, and most docs wouldn't recommend surgery just based on imaging in the absence of spinal cord compromise, motor loss, bowel/bladder dysfunction, and a few other very bad and obvious things.

[runagain]

HillaryM,

Hi.
Does get maddening, doesn't it?
Trying to figure out what to do.
I just had my second back surgery and am doing pretty good.
Please PM me.
I am so sorry you are going through this because I had to go through this also and it was difficult deciding what to do.
As many have said on here, if you cannot stand the pain, you should have surgery. However, you should try everything else before you have surgery.

Rungain

[hillarymurphy]

I wanted to update my progress. I have now met with a 4th surgeon who says I am a candidate for the TLIF surgery. I have been continuing my PT 3 times per week, I'm on visit # 24. I am FINALLY getting some results from the PT in my lumbar area (less pinching pains and spasms). The sciatic pain is much less but now I have now developed a pirifomis muscle/ IT band pain. It aches where the muscle meets the bone and I have really tight muscles up my lower back. I was referred to a really excellent sports massage therapist and it seems to help a little but I have only seen her twice. The PT told me a cortisone injection in the piriformis muscle could help. The new problems hurts less than the old problem. I have had relief in the past from the chiro so I am skeptical. It always seems to come back. For now I am thankful for the relief. I have been looking into pilates from a certified instructor that used to be a PT. Has anyone had any luck with Pilates? I have not stared to do any activities which flare up my back pains, so I guess that will be the real test. Thanks everyone for your support!

Hillary

[laid up doc]

Glad to hear you're getting some relief - you will want to know you've tried EVERYTHING before having surgery.

What your PT is talking about are trigger point injections - I have found them to be very, very helpful for muscle pain. Massage only does so much! The piriformis can be tricky b/c it's small and by the sciatic nerve, but a skilled pain dr should be able to do it w/o issue.

Best of luck to you!!!

[KBear]

That's great that you are getting relief! As laidupdoc said, you will want to know that you tried everything before surgery. It really makes the decision so much easier when you know that it is your only option. Good luck and can't wait to hear more.